Sarah Tiffen - The Riverina Writing House Inc
We were delighted to see the return of Sarah Tiffen as our guest and for her to be accompanied by one of the writers in the Leeton Writer's Collective, Christie Barhill. Sarah brought us up to date on some of the changes that had occurred since her last visit. Up until December 2022, The Riverina Writing House Inc operated as NFP out of a retail outlet in Kurrajong Avenue. The two main roles of the Writing House are as a publishing house and to host events to showcase the amazing talents of local writers in a secure and supportive environment. In Sarah's opening, she made refences to the influences of JR Tolkien, CS Lewis, The Hobbits and Middle Earth on her life and I am afraid to report that the writer of this journal was left in an abyss of lack of knowledge!
Moving on to Sarah's talk we find ourselves at the closure of the Hungry Fox and Sarah working on the process of securing new HQ in Pine Avenue where Sarah is negotiating a possible joint venture with the property-owner. This is not an easy transition; however, it is hoped that it will be open for the Art Deco Festival. Meanwhile, a new book "Memoirs and Reflections", with stories of living in COVID has been released. A future book is in the planning stage featuring photography from Paul Maytom and photos and poetry from Neil McAliece and Sharon Bailey.
Sarah's mantra are; " If you want to publish you must start Writing" and "Everybody has a story". Her vision also is that Leeton may be a future Hub of Literature similar to other International Book Fairs based on "Agriculture and Culture". Sarah also reflected on some recent sad events in Leeton and indicated that writing can be a way of alienating difficulties in Mental Health. Future developments within the Writing House may include a book therapy service and outreach to members of our community that may use writing to improve their (Mental) Health.
The talk was concluded by the introduction of Christie Barnhill. Christie is an inaugural member of the Writer's Collective, a mother of 3, teacher and writer of some amazing poetry. Christie was able to take the opportunity to read 2 poems from her own book of poetry based on rice harvesting and farming on the family farm just out of town. Her poetry "Inland Horizon", and "Harvest 2010" evoked images of the harvest and rural life. To bring the evening to an end, Sarah read a beautiful poem called "Motherlode" describing a trip to Sydney to farewell her daughter who was returning to England. The scenes of a Sydney beach, Lake George and the emotions of farewelling a daughter to the other side of the world, challenged all present to think of the love of a mother who was now not going to see her lovely progeny for a long time.
Though the above Mr. Confident has no role in the production of this the Rotary Club's Journal of Excellence I have to contribute the modern version of poetry as threatened by your editor - a 25 second contribution from Chat GPT entitled "Brian's Apology of a Poem to Sarah"
Sarah Tiffen, a writer bold, her pen a sword, her words gold. With each line she weaves a tale, one that will never, ever fail.
Through pages filled with love and strife, she brings to life a brand-new life. Her characters, they leap and dance, till readers everywhere entranced.
From fantasy worlds to real life scenes, Her writing flows like endless streams. Imagination her guiding light, a writer to shine so bright.
Sarah Tiffen, we raise a cheer, For your writing, Oh so dear. May your stories never cease, for they fill our hearts with peace.
******************************** Answer: White. The only place you can hike 3 miles south, then east for 3 miles, then north for 3 miles and end up back at your starting point is the North Pole. Polar bears are the only bears that live at the North Pole, and they are white.
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Hannah - Safari and Ball
With the return of our Exchange student, almost a stranger lately, we heard a short summary of her amazing trip on Rotary Safari and then to return to be a Deb at the Scottish Ball. Someone had to make the comment that Hannah was a Brazilian-Japanese carrying out a very British custom in Scottish guise in Rural Australia
Graeme’s Something to Smile About
"Writing is the most fun you can have by yourself" Terry Pratchet
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Brian's (c/o Readers Digest) Brain Teaser
I left my campsite and hiked south for 3 miles. Then I turned east and hiked for 3 miles. I then turned north and hiked for 3 miles, at which time I came upon a bear inside my tent eating my food! What color was the bear?
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Director’s Roundup
- Art Deco Festival - There was a general discussion around the activities of Rotary on Saturday 8th July. Leeton Central are to run a Show and Shine from 4-6pm followed by a Lionel's Smoke House and Dance from 6 pm. A suggestion came from their President Craig through George Weston that we might sell food at the Show n Shine and maybe assist with the Smoke House. Meanwhile, Fran McDonald of the Art Deco Committe has offered for our Club to have a stall at the Markets in Mountford Park from 11 am to 2pm. As there is no guarantee that the venue of the Showgrounds is available or suitable for the Smokehouse, the general feeling would be that we should run a food stall at the Markets and that if anyone wished to attend or assist with the Smokehouse it would be done on an individual basis!
- Rotary Club of Leeton Board Meeting – commences 7.00pm Tuesday 20 June 2023, SunRice Koshi Room.
- “Stories of Resilience” – Grant funding event to be held in conjunction with Leeton Business Chamber. Wednesday 31 May 2023, Historic Hydro, 7.15-9.00am. Panel discussion, all Rotarians welcome. Time to register on Eventbrite .
- Tree Plant - after the successful planting at Rosedale, it was proposed that there should be an environmental clean-up of the corflu that remains scattered at the back of Fivebough Swamp.
- Market Day – Next Markets are on Saturday 3rd June2023, at Mountford Park. As there is no meeting on Thursday please remember to attend
- Yanco Ag Institute 50yr Reunion – Club has been invited to cater for 50yr reunion on 27 August 2023.
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Sergeant’s Session
Sergeant Len fined Graeme for allowing Carmel to nominate the Treasurer as fines master! Not Kosha! However, that did not stop him fining Geoff Beecher and others for their attendance at the tree plant that was Shovel Ready for Dan , resulted in a wine spill wastage for Geoff, Brian dumping Dan for a ride home and George for missing out on the best food and dessert!!
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Silly Joke / Meme
Why do trees hate riddles?
Because it’s too easy to get stumped.
Why did the tree get stumped?
It couldn’t get to the root of the problem.
What’s a tree’s favorite drink?
Root beer.
What did the tree do when the bank closed?
It opened its own branch.
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Graeme’s Quote of the Week
The funny thing about writing is that whether you are doing it well or doing it poorly, it looks exactly the same. That is actually one of the main ways that writing is different from ballet dancing. John Green.
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